LAUSD's Foshay takes title of #1 feeder school to USC

(FOX 11) - Among the new students at the University of Southern California is 18-year-old Stephanie Cuevas. But unlike the rest of the freshman class, Stephanie carries herself as if she’s been attending USC for years.

And, in fact, she has.

Stephanie is a graduate of the Foshay Learning Center. This LAUSD K-12 school is just four blocks from USC. It’s also one of two schools with a partnership with USC. The Neighborhood Academic Initiative brings Foshay students to the USC campus for extra help and classes on Saturdays during the academic year.

In 2016, Foshay sent 19 of its graduates to USC; the most students from any one high school; marking the first time an LAUSD school claimed the time of number one feeder school to USC.

Since 1989, USC has partnered with Foshay, effectively “growing” students for the University.

The Dean of Admissions, Tim Brunold says, “USC wants to be a part of the community, not apart from it.”. He went on to say, the strength of the institution comes, in part, from the diversity of it’s student population. “USC didn’t admit the Foshay students because we had to. We admitted the students because we wanted to.”. Indeed, USC admitted just over 16% of it’s applicants, “making this the most selective year on record,” according to USC.

Stephanie is also a great representative of the face of the Freshman class. USC claims the class of 2020 is the most accomplished and one of the most diverse classes in the University’s history.

The freshman class includes a lot of students like Stephanie, the first in her family to attend college. She’s the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, who sacrificed for her so she could fulfill her dream of attending USC.